In response to an emboldened fringe of right-wing “manosphere” influencers following the presidential election, women on college campuses and online are facing a surge of misogynistic attacks. A post on social platform X by Nick Fuentes, a far-right internet personality, popularized the phrase “Your body, my choice” as a means of targeting women’s autonomy and reproductive rights. This rhetoric has spread rapidly online, with some men using it to harass women on college campuses and social media platforms.
Women like Sadie Perez, a 19-year-old political science student in Wisconsin, have felt the need to carry self-defense tools like pepper spray following the election. The situation has sparked concerns among women about their safety and autonomy, as some men interpret the election results as a rebuke of women’s rights.
The use of violent and misogynistic language online has increased significantly since the election, with phrases like “Get back in the kitchen” and calls to repeal the 19th Amendment gaining traction. Incidents of offline threats, including a man holding a sign saying “Women Are Property” at Texas State University, have also raised alarms.
Experts warn that online discourse can have real-world consequences, as seen in previous instances of hate speech leading to violence. As concerns grow about the impact of such rhetoric, women like Perez are leaning on each other and other women to stay safe and stand against the misogynistic attacks they face. The hope is to encourage women to use their voices to push back against this dangerous trend and protect their rights and autonomy.
Source
Photo credit spectrumlocalnews.com
